Cirrus@Austlit

This brief column reports on a 'Theatre Royal, capable of containing about 400 persons' opening in Adelaide, South Australia. The 'acting and stage manager' was Charles Bonnar 'formerly a compositor in The Colonial newspaper office ... and subsequently in The Monitor and Herald offices'. The report continues; 'An opening address written expressly for the occasion was spoken by Mr. Bonnar, in the character of a strolling manager. The pieces selected to open with were The Mountaineers and The Lancers.' A report, 'Theatre at South Australia!', published in the Commercial Journal and Advertiser, 28 July 1838, describes the theatre as a room. The first purpose built theatre in Adelaide, the Queen's Theatre, was not opened until January 1841.

Brief mention of the newspaper, the South Australian Record.

News from Tasmanian newspapers is recorded in this column including the comment that Murray's Review 'is not very noted for its accuracy'. A paragraph announces that the printing monopoly is to cease but that 'the Government work is not to be thrown open', instead 'a complete printing and bookbinding establishment is to be sent out from England, and to be placed under the superintendence of a competent person ...' A further paragraph alludes to the republishing of 'the celebrated Pickwick Papers, in weekly numbers of 24 pages, at one shilling each' by 'Mr [Henry] Dowling, of Launceston.' The unsuccessful season of the Hobart Town Theatre Royal is also mentioned.

Advertisement for performances at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, on 26 July 1838 to include 'Shakespeare's Play, entitled Katherine & Petruchio. Petruchio ... by Mr. Joseph Simmons', the 'Melo-Drama, entitled Mabel's Curse' and the 'Laughable Farce, called Raising the Wind. Jeremy Diddler ... by Mr. Joseph Simmons'.